One shower later, Pei Qingjian felt utterly defeated.
Even when Lan Xingchen reminded him that the bathrobe was in the second cabinet, he only managed a reluctant, “Mm.”
How long would the drug last? One day? Three days? Surely a week at most, right?!
Pei Qingjian sighed as he turned off the shower, dried himself, threw on a new bathrobe, and stepped out.
Lan Xingchen was already waiting on the bed. Seeing Pei Qingjian emerge, he offered a faint smile.
Pei Qingjian: … Not now, please. That just looks like you’re mocking me.
Lan Xingchen pulled up a corner of the blanket. “Come up.”
Pei Qingjian: …
He silently walked to the bed and lay down.
“Want some more wine?” Lan Xingchen asked kindly.
Pei Qingjian shook his head. He never wanted to drink wine again in his life!
“Then I’ll dim the lights,” Lan Xingchen said.
After all, it was their first time, and it was dark—he didn’t want an accident.
Pei Qingjian: !!!
You’re supposed to be the “top” here! Even if you’re a supporting male! But in this era, shouldn’t the supporting male still remain chaste for the lead? How come you’re so… uninhibited?!
Yes, Lan Xingchen was a supporting male, the same as in the book Pei Qingjian had jumped into.
Pei Qingjian had only heard a rough summary from a client’s younger sister after a shoot, so he had to piece together the general plot.
In short, this was a typical overbearing CEO loves me kind of melodrama.
The book had two overbearing CEOs: one, the main lead Tang Wenzhen; the other, the supporting male sitting beside him—Lan Xingchen.
At the start of the story, the protagonist, Pei Qingjian, harbored a secret crush on Lan Xingchen. Unfortunately, Lan Xingchen didn’t know how to cherish him and rejected Pei Qingjian’s confession.
Pei Qingjian was heartbroken and left for a distant land.
It was only after his departure that Lan Xingchen had a sudden awakening, realizing that he truly loved Pei Qingjian.
But by then, Pei Qingjian had already met his destined partner—Tang Wenzhen, the story’s main male lead—in a foreign country, and the two had developed feelings for each other.
Later, Pei Qingjian and Tang Wenzhen returned to China, triggering a tangled web of emotions between the three of them. A melodramatic battle ensued: “You love me, I love him.” In the end, Lan Xingchen’s attempt to win back Pei Qingjian ended in disaster; he failed to reclaim his love and tragically died young, an early death that left everyone mourning.
As for the original protagonist, he was merely a supporting male in the story. On the surface, he seemed to be Lan Xingchen’s “golden sparrow,” but in reality, he was a pawn placed by Lan’s cousin to stir up conflict between Lan Xingchen and his uncle, so the cousin could profit.
Consequently, the original protagonist caused trouble around Lan Xingchen and Pei Qingjian until he destroyed himself and made it impossible for Lan Xingchen and Pei Qingjian to be together, finally exiting the story.
In short, none of these endings were happy.
Pei Qingjian sighed. How tragic! How heartbreaking for anyone hearing this!
He hadn’t even lived enough yet—how could he be fated to die young?!
He refused to accept it.
Lan Xingchen noticed Pei Qingjian shaking his head and asked, puzzled, “What does that shake mean? You like to do it with the lights on?”
Pei Qingjian: ???
No! Pei Qingjian turned to him. All he could think about was “do, do, do”?!
But didn’t you like Pei Qing?
Then what is this now?
This is far too unrestrained!
No wonder you’re so handsome yet not the main male lead but a supporting male—time for some self-reflection!
“This… do we really have to drive?” Pei Qingjian hesitated.
The main issue: his buddy was completely unresponsive. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t do anything!
“Or else?” Lan Xingchen asked, feigning puzzlement. “We got together today for this, didn’t we?”
Oh, right. Pei Qingjian nodded slightly. After all, it was the original protagonist who had suggested it first.
“Are you nervous again?” Lan Xingchen’s rare gentle tone came while lying on the bed. “Want another glass of wine?”
Pei Qingjian: …
Before he could reply, Lan Xingchen had already poured another glass from the decanter and handed it over.
“Here.”
Pei Qingjian: …
He gritted his teeth, took the glass, and downed half of it in one gulp.
“Feeling better?” Lan Xingchen asked, concerned.
Pei Qingjian shook his head. His buddy still wasn’t “rising to the occasion”!
“Drink some more,” Lan Xingchen said softly.
Pei Qingjian finished it in one gulp. “No.”
This wasn’t about nervousness—it was hardware failure!
Lan Xingchen: …
Lan Xingchen saw the drooping expression on Pei Qingjian’s face and, pitying him, softened, “Then… let’s forget it for now?”
You can’t force a stubborn cow to drink water. Driving requires consent. If his partner is this nervous, forcing the car door open wouldn’t work.
There would be plenty of time later; there was no rush.
Pei Qingjian never expected that Lan Xingchen would willingly postpone their driving adventure tonight, and he nodded eagerly. “Mm, mm.”
Lan Xingchen: …
Watching the frequency and force of Pei Qingjian’s nods, and the unmasked joy on his face, he felt he might have spoken too soon.
Was there really that much excitement about driving?
Though a new driver, Lan Xingchen had studied the manual thoroughly. Accidents wouldn’t happen; the car wouldn’t be wrecked.
Giving Pei Qingjian a chance—and himself a chance—wasn’t a bad idea!
Lan Xingchen took the wine glass from Pei Qingjian, placed it back on the bedside table, turned off the lights, and lay down.
Pei Qingjian breathed a sigh of relief. Great, he’d avoided disaster.
Now he just hoped his buddy would regain his health soon and restore his vigor!
Just as he thought this, he heard Lan Xingchen ask, “You don’t trust my skills?”
Pei Qingjian: …
“No, not at all.”
“Then you have confidence in me?”
Pei Qingjian: … Not really.
“Your… skills are good?” Pei Qingjian asked curiously.
Lan Xingchen snorted lightly, confident. “Of course.”
He then turned to face Pei Qingjian.
Pei Qingjian noticed the movement and wondered, what was he doing?
“Like this,” Lan Xingchen said, his voice low and magnetic. “Knowing it’s your first time, it’s normal to be nervous. So I’ll show you first.”
Pei Qingjian: ??? Show? Show what?
“What do you want to do?”
Lan Xingchen smiled, and in the next instant, Pei Qingjian felt the warmth of his hand.
Warm, dry, with distinct bones.
Pei Qingjian: !!!
He froze in place, his palm burning almost unbearably.
The heat traveled up his arm, past his neck and ears, like a fever, scorching his cheeks.
Lan Xingchen’s fingers moved with agile precision, slithering like a snake.
Pei Qingjian instinctively pushed against his shoulders, but couldn’t move him.
“Let go,” he gasped, breath hot with panic.
Lan Xingchen sensed something was wrong, moving with unbelievable dexterity.
Pei Qingjian felt his face grow even hotter; his push lost all strength.
In the dark, his cheeks glowed red like clouds, hiding shyness and naïveté.
Lan Xingchen moved for a while before finally, awkwardly, withdrawing his hand.
His expression was complicated, his gaze toward Pei Qingjian filled with faint sympathy and apology.
“The night’s getting late. Go to sleep,” Lan Xingchen said softly.
Pei Qingjian: …
Pei Qingjian didn’t reply. He quietly buried his face in the blanket.
He turned his back to Lan Xingchen, his mind still replaying the sensation of the other’s touch.
This was the first time he’d been this intimate with someone. He couldn’t say whether it was comfortable or not—there was only a flush of shyness.
How could this be? he thought. They’d only just met; they barely knew each other.
Still… Pei Qingjian blushed at the realization. So that’s what this feeling is like.
Indeed, it made his heart race.
Seeing him silent, Lan Xingchen assumed he had fallen asleep.
He finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, How did this happen?!
I’m still so young… how could something like this occur?!
Did he know before?
Was that why he was so nervous?
I deserve to die! Lan Xingchen berated himself. I’m such a piece of trash!
How could I have done something like this?
Did I just personally rip open his wounds?!
He scolded himself while feeling pity for Pei Qingjian. So young… so handsome… and yet something like this happened.
He lifted his gaze and glanced at Pei Qingjian. The other lay still, back turned, seemingly asleep.
Seeing this, Lan Xingchen turned slowly, back to Pei Qingjian, and quietly opened his phone to a search engine.
Pei Qingjian noticed a faint light behind him and turned slightly, only to see Lan Xingchen using his phone.
Having calmed down, Pei Qingjian thought in terms of reciprocity. Lan Xingchen had helped the original protagonist financially and had just helped him in person. So he ought to give something back.
Otherwise, wouldn’t he just be taking advantage of him?
Careful not to disturb him, Pei Qingjian inched closer.
Just as he got near, two words on the phone screen caught his sharp eyesight.
Pei Qingjian leaned in and read clearly:
【What to do if a man can’t perform?】
【Why would a young man be unable to perform?】
【What foods can help with impotence?】
Meanwhile, his companion was intently reading: 【Impotence is an illness. Correct treatment starts with caring for the other person’s mental state.】
Pei Qingjian: …!!!
“I’m not sick!”
Lan Xingchen almost dropped his phone, startled, and shakily looked back.
When did he wake up?
Did he see everything?
Damn it—wasn’t he asleep?
Lan Xingchen felt his guilt deepen.
As a man, encountering this is already awkward.
Now that Pei Qingjian knew, if he were in his place, he’d want to dig a hole and disappear.
Weakly, he nodded. “Yes, yes, you’re not sick.”
Listening to the soothing tone, Pei Qingjian grew even more exhausted. “I really am fine. Today was just… an accident.”
“Yes, yes,” Lan Xingchen said firmly. “Today was definitely an accident.”
Pei Qingjian: …
“I was just nervous today. In a few days, it’ll be fine.”
“That’s right. Just today. In a few days, it’ll be fine,” Lan Xingchen echoed.
“I mean it!”
“Of course! We both mean it!”
Pei Qingjian: …
He had never felt so exasperated. “Really, you’re mistaken. I’m not that kind of person.”
“Yes, yes,” Lan Xingchen agreed readily. “It’s me. It’s my problem, that’s why I looked it up. I mainly wanted to treat myself.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
He grabbed hold of Lan Xingchen’s pulse, feeling the other’s vitality.
“This… needs treatment?”
Lan Xingchen gently moved Pei Qingjian’s hand aside, careful not to startle him.
“It’s all been forced. Strong on the outside, soft inside. Appears solid but fragile within, like gold-plated rot. Don’t be fooled by his outward strength. Internally, he’s exhausted. All internal injuries.”
Pei Qingjian: … You really are something else.
Lan Xingchen carefully supported Pei Qingjian’s shoulders, laying him down gently, voice soft, movements delicate, as if he were handling fragile glass.
Pei Qingjian instantly recalled what he had read: 【Correct treatment starts with caring for the other person’s mental state.】
Ahhhh… he really doesn’t need care, right?!
“You’re overthinking. I’m really not what you think,” Pei Qingjian insisted.
Lan Xingchen nodded quickly. “I know. I know. You’re not like that. I overthought—it’s my fault.”
Pei Qingjian: …
He pulled the blanket over his face in despair.
Lan Xingchen silently breathed a sigh of relief. That was close. Luckily, he reacted quickly and calmed Pei Qingjian’s emotions; otherwise, Pei Qingjian wouldn’t have been able to sleep.
This kind of thing is enough to bother any man. If he hadn’t reassured him, Pei Qingjian’s fragile heart would have shattered like tofu.
Lan Xingchen thought to himself again: I deserve to die.
Look at what I’ve done all night!
He slowly raised a hand, patting the blanket gently, cooing softly: “Sleep now. Get some rest.”
Pei Qingjian: …
How could he possibly sleep now?!
Take your “patting a child” hand away!!!